Patchy civic work by the Indore Municipal Corporation is likely to leave city roads clogged, muddy, and a number of neighbourhoods under knee-deep water during the monsoon this year, residents fear.

Patchy civic work by the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is likely to leave city roads clogged, muddy, and a number of neighbourhoods under knee-deep water during the monsoon this year, residents fear.

People living in the low -lying areas, along the Kahn and Saraswati Rivers and lakes were evacuated due to heavy rain last year.

It was not just the low-lying areas, but the rain water even submerged important roads in the city, including AB Road, BRTS corridor, MG Road, Jawahar Marg, Ring Road under knee-deep water. Thanks to sloppy work by the IMC, residents may have to suffer waterlogged roads again this monsoon.

To clear clogged drains, remove encroachments from nullahs and widen water bodies, the corporation has spent more than Rs 2 crore in the last four months.

The habit of littering domestic waste on streets and back-lanes by residents is one of the major reasons for drains to be choked, besides encroachments on nullahs and rivers, said IMC officials.

Taking cognizance of residents’ habit of littering roads, city mayor Malini Gaud has warned that people who are found throwing garbage on the road will be penalised.

The civic body introduced door-to-door garbage collection in parts of the city in August last year, but the scheme has failed to get the desired result.

A former city planner, however, said that the civic body has to focus on the city’s drainage infrastructure to minimize waterlogging. “The Corporation needs to have more specialized consultants for public work.”

Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Fauziya Alim slammed at the ruling BJP-led corporation for the city’s poor drainage system.

“The corporation is only carrying out civic work approved in the budget last year. The ruling party has not tabled this year’s financial plan and budget estimates,” she said.

She further alleged that the corporation has not paid contractors due to the delay in tabling the budget.

Brijmohan Bhagoriya, in-charge nullahs cleaning work, rubbished the allegations, saying that the civic body has lifted more than 80% of silt from the 17km stretch of the rivers.”